Policy
Rep. Dingell introduces legislation to strengthen electronic voting systems
New legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) this week is seeking to update voter system protections and out-of-date infrastructure. U.S. intelligence community assessments have found that at least 21 state election systems were attacked by Russian-affiliated hackers in the 2016... Read More »
Assault weapons ban introduced in Senate
Following the recent church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, that left 26 people dead, Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday that would make it illegal to sell, transfer, manufacture or import military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The bill, titled the... Read More »
Sen. Blumenthal presses Department for Defense for answers, reforms following Texas mass shooting
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent a letter to the Department of Defense (DOD) seeking answers and reforms related to the reporting system failure that enabled the gunman in Sunday’s mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, to obtain firearms. Under the National Instant Criminal... Read More »
National Nuclear Security Administration awards $27.5 million to Cornell, Notre Dame researchers
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) awarded research grants totaling $27.5 million to researchers at Cornell University and the University of Notre Dame, NNSA announced this week. The researchers will receive the funds the Stewardship Science... Read More »
Democratic Senators push for Assault Weapons Ban in wake of year’s mass shootings
A new bill from the Democrat side of the aisle in Washington, D.C. seeks to ban the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The push is coming from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and ranking member of the Senate... Read More »
Security firm Chertoff Group granted SAFETY Act designation by DHS
The global security and risk management advisory firm known as The Chertoff Group has become one of a select few companies to be granted a SAFETY Act “qualified anti-terrorism technology” designation for its methodology by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The company uses what they... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee pushes for CT scanning at all airports after briefing on terror threats
Members of the House Homeland Security Committee pressed David Pekoske, the newly confirmed administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), on how quickly the country could integrate computed tomography (CT) scanners into every airport in the country to thwart threats at a... Read More »
Committee releases report on security information-sharing hubs
The House Homeland Security Committee majority staff released a new report reviewing the nation’s network of fusion centers, hubs for sharing information related to security between federal, state and local government entities. The new report, Advancing the Homeland Security Information... Read More »
Reed calls for review of criminal record reporting systems, answers in Texas church shooter case
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement Monday calling for a review of criminal record reporting systems, including the system that allowed a Texas gunman to illegally acquire a firearm. The statement came after the Air Force... Read More »
Dem. Senators request information from CDC on spread of water- and vector-borne diseases on Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands
As Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands continue to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, a group of Democratic U.S. Senators recently sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Brenda Fitzgerald requesting information on the... Read More »
DHS joins major sports leagues to upgrade stadium security
Under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate is assisting the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Basketball League (NBA) in updating sports... Read More »
Moore named permanent director of Army’s Edgewood Chemical Biological Center
After serving as the acting director of the Army’s Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) since May, Eric Moore was named the permanent director of ECBC by Maj. Gen. Cedric Williams effective Oct. 29. ECBC is tasked with research and development efforts related to non-medical components of... Read More »
President signs bill reauthorizing nationwide task force programs that help protect children, prosecute online predators
The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force will continue its efforts help state and local police departments and prosecutors prevent, investigate and respond to technology-enabled crimes against children under a bill signed into law on Friday. Established in 2008, the ICAC Task... Read More »
Senators aim to boost federal investments in Next Generation 911 technology
Existing federal grant programs would be expanded to help state and local governments deploy modern 911 systems that enable citizens to text for help and send audio, text or video files during emergencies under legislation introduced on Thursday. The Next Generation 911 Act of 2017, which was... Read More »
GAO warns of need to strengthen pathogen research lab oversight in wake of safety incidents
The labs working to protect the United States from hazardous pathogens are themselves in need of oversight updates, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), owing to several lapses in safety. The labs in question--overseen by the Federal Select Agent Program--amount to more... Read More »
Recent WPA2 protocol vulnerability highlights critical need for information sharing, according to DHS
A vulnerability recently identified in the Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) protocol that secures most wireless network traffic highlights the critical nature of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) information sharing, according to a recent DHS release. Jeanette Manfra, the assistant... Read More »
President signs bill formally authorizing National Computer Forensics Institute
State and local law enforcers will continue to receive specialized training to incorporate cyber and digital tools into criminal investigations following the President’s signed a bill last week that formally authorizes the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI). The NCFI has trained... Read More »
Emerging threats to air cargo prompts legislation to enhance screening, partnerships
Under a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Thursday, 3D imaging technology and stronger public-private partnerships would be leveraged to enhance Transportation Security Administration (TSA) air cargo security protocols. The Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2017, H.R.... Read More »
Infectious Diseases Society of America opposes House bill seeking to eliminate Prevention and Public Health Fund
A federal fund that helps state and local efforts to detect and respond to disease outbreaks, supports immunization and critical health responses is at risk of legislative elimination, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). The bill that would do so--the CHAMPION Act--is... Read More »
Half of states commit to FirstNet, committee hears concerns about tight state deadlines
The first nationwide public safety broadband network, known as FirstNet, secured partnership commitments from about half of the states and two U.S. territories by the end of October, according to testimony before a congressional panel on Wednesday. Members of the House Energy and Commerce... Read More »
Effort to enhance health care system’s cybersecurity capabilities relaunches in House
A bill reintroduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday would better equip the U.S. Department Health and Human Services’ (HHS) to address cyber threats to the health care system following recent malware attacks like WannaCry and NotPetya. U.S. Reps. Billy Long (R-PA) and Doris... Read More »
CBP announces 30 public-private partnerships under Reimbursable Services Program
Thirty private sector and government stakeholders would reimburse U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for providing additional cross-border trade and travel inspection services under tentative partnership agreements announced on Tuesday. The Reimbursable Services Program (RSP) was launched... Read More »
Senate bill aims to secure state voting systems against security threats
State-run election systems would be deemed critical infrastructure, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be enlisted to protect registration data, voting systems, and ballots from foreign interference, under bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate on Tuesday. The Securing... Read More »
US Border Patrol announces new Chief Patrol Agent of the Del Rio Sector
U.S. Border Patrol announced Tuesday the appointment of Felix Chavez as the new Chief Patrol Agent of the Del Rio Sector, effective Oct. 29. As Chief Patrol Agent, Chavez will manage nine stations and more than 1,500 agents and support staff. He will also oversee 210 miles of border and over... Read More »
Homeland Security Committee holds field hearing on port security
Members of U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee held a field hearing last week on port security at the Port of Los Angeles. The hearing, titled Examining Physical Security and Cybersecurity at our Nation’s Ports, included testimony from representatives from the Coast... Read More »
OPCW Director-General Üzümcü addresses International Council of Chemical Associations in Vienna
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü recently gave a speech at the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) in Vienna, Austria, to highlight the organization’s cooperation with industry as it works to complete the destruction of... Read More »
GAO identifies mission, membership overlaps within DHS emergency communications organization
A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that there is an overlap in the missions and membership within a number of U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emergency communications organizations because each of them promotes interoperable emergency... Read More »
Sen. Markey, Rep. Lieu introduce legislation to create Internet of Things cybersecurity certification program
Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) recently introduced bicameral legislation that would create a voluntary cybersecurity certification program for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. “The IoT will also stand for the Internet of Threats unless we put in place appropriate... Read More »
New Michigan law assigns cybersecurity volunteers to network security assistance during cyber attacks
Though the state of Michigan first established a Cyber Civilian Corps back in 2013, a new law signed last week will allow those volunteers to service a broader range of entities in need of crisis assistance. The bill was appropriately dubbed the Cyber Civilian Corps Act by its introducers, state... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection announces completion of border wall prototypes
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced that the six companies tasked with building prototypes for a southern border wall completed construction in San Diego, California. CBP will now test and evaluate the eight prototypes over a 30 to 60-day period to determine which... Read More »
Bill to improve American security for commercial flights at Cuban airports introduced in Senate
A bill that aims to strengthen American security at airports in Cuba and on commercial flights between the two countries was recently introduced to the Senate by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). The Cuban Airport Security Act would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to... Read More »
Bipartisan House delegation visits last point of departure airports in Jordan, Germany
A bipartisan delegation led by Rep. John Katko (R-NY), chairman of the House Homeland Security’s Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee, continued their visitation this week at last point of departure airports in Jordan and Germany. The delegation toured the Queen Alia... Read More »
Senators introduce bill to expand checks for sale or transfer of firearms
A group of 28 Senators led by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) to require private sellers to conduct background checks for the sale or transfer of firearms, with certain exceptions. The requirements of the Background Check Expansion Act would apply to all unlicensed sellers, whether they sell firearms... Read More »
White House announces updated security measures for refugees entering the United States
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday the implementation of updated security measures for refugees entering the United States, including, but not limited to, increased data collection, improved information sharing between agencies, and new training procedures for screeners. The changes come... Read More »